Hadacol

Missouri roots rockers Hadacol are named after an ancient alcohol drink that once served as a sponsor for Hank Williams' radio show -- a fitting moniker for a group that offers boozy, rocked-up country occasionally augmented by smoldering Crazy Horse-like guitars.

Brothers Fred and Greg Wickham, who grew up in a small town outside of Kansas City, started performing together in the early '90s, eventually adding bassist Richard Burgess and a succession of drummers to round out the group that would evolve into Hadacol. 1996 saw the stabilization of the lineup, with the addition of drummer Scottie McCuiston.

The group recorded tracks for their debut album with producer Lou Whitney, and in 1998 changed their name from Big Iron to Hadacol and signed with Checkered Past. The effort, Better Than This, was released in early 1999. In the summer of that year, Brian Baker became the group's drummer. With a growing reputation as a fierce live act in the nervy, countrified tradition of Jason and the Scorchers, Hadacol dropped their sophomore effort, All in Your Head (which was once again helmed by Lou Whitney), in November of 2001 on Slewfoot Records. ~ Erik Hage, Rovi